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Hype Circle 2015: Gartner stares groggily into crystal ball

Surprising it can read anything at all through all the smoke

Smart Dust is entering the Innovation Trigger, Micro Data Centres are nearing the Peak of Inflated Expectations and virtual reality has escaped the Trough of Disillusionment en route to the Slope of Enlightenment.

Yes folks, it can mean only thing: Gartner has been hitting the psychotropic drugs again has cast its collective mind on the industry to determine where innovations sit on the 2015 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies.

The central theme of the latest report continues to be the "journey to digital business”, but we are assured of a new addition – the inclusion of tech that supports “what Gartner defines as digital humanism”.

Put more plainly, “the notion that people are the central focus in the manifestation of digital businesses and digital workplaces”.

What a time to be alive. Apparently, the report is based on a cross-industry perspective on the products and trends that biz strategists, chief innovation officers, R&D leaders, entrepreneurs, global market developers and emerging tech teams should consider in developing portfolios of new stuff.

On top of Smart Dust – teeny micro electro-mechanical systems including sensors, robots and other devices used to detect light, temperature, vibration or chemicals – the Cycle considers software-defined security, IoT Platforms, the connected home and quantum computing to be at the Innovation Trigger stage.

Autonomous vehicles, IoT, speech-to-speech translation and wearables are straddling the Peak of Inflated Expectations, as hybrid cloud, augmented reality and crypto-currency exchanges are stuck in the dreaded Trough of Disillusionment – every wide-eyed exec's nightmare. Or maybe not.

On the rise – the Slope of Enlightenment – is virtual reality, gesture control and enterprise 3D printing. Presumably these technologies are edging toward the Plateau of Productivity.

Besty Burton, Gartner veep and distinguished analyst, said in the report:

This year, we encourage CIOs and other IT leaders to dedicate time and energy on innovation, rather than just incremental business advancement, while also gaining inspiration by scanning beyond the bounds of their industry.

Well quite.

After more than two decades publishing the Hype Cycles, El Reg wonders where the Hype Cycles sit on Gartner’s Hype Cycle.

Still, as we pointed out last year, if you are reading this article and not the report, you are $1,995 better off. ®